Wednesday, January 21, 2009

This is how it starts. Right after Castro took over, people were encouraged to go and beat up demonstrators. It was common to hear a communist say to another citizen, "I could shoot you right now and nothing would happen. Houses belonging to the dissidents would get egged and people would get beaten by their own neighbors-if you don't believe me, go look on youtube.

A school would be encouraged to beat up another school, as was the case with father school, the Instituto Politectecnico de Maraianao, who's principal Prophesor Lipiz (a communist refugee from Spain's civil war) had the students build giant sticks thats looked like pencils, and ordered them to go used them on the students at Belen (a private school that the Castro brothers attended at one point). He had them work on these things for a week, even had them paint them to look like pencils. My father refused of course, which explains why we eventually ended up leaving the country.

This is happening in Venezuela, while Chavez tryes to stay in power at any cost. I'm so proud of them for standing up to this delutional nut case.

While democracy was taking a welcome boost in the Washington Mall, in Caracas it suffered yet another set back as we saw clearly how the repressive apparatus of the state is geared exclusively toward people that we disagree with Chavez. Criminals and people who support Chavez can exert any violent action they want as long as Chavez interests remain unperturbed. Thus today while crime keeps it rampage in Venezuela with death rates worthy of Iraq or Gaza, the government sent a disproportionate display of force to repress students marches. Elsewhere as the red shirts of Lina Ron attacked the Atheneum of Caracas (one of their many attacks this week) the police stood by (as it has been doing through all recent attacks).

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

The people of the United States of America, welcomed their 44th president, Barack Hussein Obama, once again making history. Obama with his laid back demeanor and ability to inspire can hopefully unite our country and put to rest the ghosts of slavery.

"For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus - and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass"

What can I say? I loved his speech!! Never underestimate the power of words! I can just imagine our beloved Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet, as Cuba's newly elected president, making this speech. I hope to live long enough to see it."The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit, to choose our better history, to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea passed on from generation to generation. That God given promise, that all are equal, all are free and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness".

Now President Obama, went on to say,

"Our challenges may be knew. The instrument with which we meet them, may be knew, but these values upon which our success depends, honesty and hard work, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism. These things are old, this things are true".......

And my favorite part of his acceptance speech,

"This is the source of our confidence - the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny".

"This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed - why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath".

Reverend Dr. Joseph Lowery, the deacon of the Civil Rights movement, made me laugh and made me cry when he said towards the end of his prayer, "and in the joy of a new beginning, we ask you to work for the day when black won't ask to get it back, when brown can stick aroind, when yellow will be mellow, a red man can get ahead man, and white will embrace what is right. Let all those who do justice and love mercy say Amen, say Amen and Amen".